One word always springs up in reviews whenever a Mercedes Benz E-Class is reviewed, compared or held up as an example: classic. Since the 1950s the E-Class has been the industry leader in terms of sheer class when it comes to executive vehicles. This 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350 BlueTEC Sedan, as expected, lives up to that legacy.

Expert Ratings

Performance

Currently 5.00/5

Reliability

Currently 4.82/5

Appearance

Currently 4.59/5

Comfort

Currently 4.99/5

Overall

Currently 4.85/5

ReviewitOnline Ratings are based on a number of factors including reputation, appearance, model age, engine & other comparative aspects.

It is, in almost every respect according to reviews, a standard E350. The only difference is that the 2012 E350 BlueTEC Sedan has a 3.0 litre diesel engine in addition to the standard E350's seven speed transmission, suspension and no-nonsense yet luxurious interior. While the diesel engine is smaller than the E350's standard 3.5 litre petrol counterpart, and produces just 210 horsepower, the 400 plus pounds of torque that pours onto the road is considerably greater than the E350. As expected, however, with a diesel engine under the hood all that torque comes at the price of acceleration. Unlike the E350, the 2012 E350 BlueTEC Sedan can't get from 0-60 is less than seven seconds. That said, the E-Class was never meant to be a speed devil. Its watchwords - style, dependence, reliability - are all bolstered by having a heavier, yet inherently earthier, design of engine. The diesel engine also gives the E350 BlueTEC Sedan greater fuel efficiency as compared to the standard E350, averaging 22 miles per hour in the city compared to the standard E350's 17 mpg.

Inside, the 2012 E350 BlueTEC Sedan is, at first glance, every inch the luxury car, reviews agree without exception. This is not a flashy sports car, although the demands of the market in recent years have resulted in a more athletic and less angular looking interior, reviews state, as compared with ten years ago. It undoubtedly still reeks of Mercedes-Benz class, with cream leather seats as standard and luxuriant leg and headroom.

The most obvious competitor for your dollars would be the car's petroleum sibling. So - why go for the E350 BlueTEC Sedan's diesel charms over the standard E-350 with its V6 petroleum heart? The BlueTEC is more expensive than a standard E-350 - at a base price of $51,175, almost $4000 dearer - not counting the fact that Diesel is a more expensive fuel than petrol. It all comes down to what you consider a 'luxury car' or, more broadly, 'luxury' to be. The E-350 BlueTEC Sedan takes its time, is fuel efficient, reliable and gentlemanly. The E-350 is more of a design concession to the modern luxury Sedan market's demands for more athletic cars, but is no less classier for that. Considering luxury and comfort paired with good performance, the E350 BlueTEC Sedan is worth the price tag on it. That doesn't mean it would be so appealing for the price-conscious consumers out there though.